BACKGROUND: Sex related differences in the course and severity of multiple sclerosis (MS) could be mediated by the sex hormones. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between serum sex hormone concentrations and characteristics of tissue damage on conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in men and women suffering from relapsing-remitting MS. RESULTS: Serum testosterone was significantly lower in women with MS than in controls. The lowest levels were found in women with a greater number of gadolinium enhancing lesions. A positive correlation was observed between testosterone concentrations and both tissue damage on MRI and clinical disability. In men, there was a positive correlation between oestradiol concentrations and brain damage. CONCLUSIONS: The hormone related modulation of pathological changes supports the hypothesis that sex hormones play a role in the inflammation, damage, and repair mechanisms typical of MS.
Sex hormones modulate brain damage in multiple sclerosis: MRI evidence / Tomassini, Valentina; Onesti, Emanuela; C., Mainero; E., Giugni; A., Paolillo; Salvetti, Marco; Nicoletti, Ferdinando; Pozzilli, Carlo. - In: JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, NEUROSURGERY AND PSYCHIATRY. - ISSN 0022-3050. - 76:2(2005), pp. 272-275. [10.1136/jnnp.2003.033324]
Sex hormones modulate brain damage in multiple sclerosis: MRI evidence
TOMASSINI, VALENTINA;ONESTI, EMANUELA;SALVETTI, Marco;NICOLETTI, Ferdinando;POZZILLI, Carlo
2005
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sex related differences in the course and severity of multiple sclerosis (MS) could be mediated by the sex hormones. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between serum sex hormone concentrations and characteristics of tissue damage on conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in men and women suffering from relapsing-remitting MS. RESULTS: Serum testosterone was significantly lower in women with MS than in controls. The lowest levels were found in women with a greater number of gadolinium enhancing lesions. A positive correlation was observed between testosterone concentrations and both tissue damage on MRI and clinical disability. In men, there was a positive correlation between oestradiol concentrations and brain damage. CONCLUSIONS: The hormone related modulation of pathological changes supports the hypothesis that sex hormones play a role in the inflammation, damage, and repair mechanisms typical of MS.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
